Marking device



June 7, 1960 D. E. TREMBA 2,939,389

MARKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WU. T

June 7, 1960 D. E. TREMBA 2,939,339

' MARKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 20d 46' 9 j i l Em Ear June'7, 1960 D. E. TREMBA 2,939,389

MARKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Bani/Jr Pay/0" f, z'mba 2 %W%M- 1.404%. i fig I MARKING DEVICE David E. Tremba, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 715,838

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-232) This invention relates generally to marking devices, and more specifically to an automatic stamping attachment for blueprint machines.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various paper feeding machines and the like, a particularly useful application is made in blueprint machines of the azo-type. In particular, when such machines are used to make prints of tracings, it is frequently desired to have the date on which the print was made marked on such print. Heretofore, it has been necessary to date-stamp individual prints by hand.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of an attachment for such a machine wherein the date or other marking is placed on the obverse or rear side of the paper incidentally to its passing through the machine. The instant invention may be provided as an initial or integral part of the machine itself, or it may be so constructed, as in the case of the instant embodiment, as to comprise an attachment which may be secured to existing machines of this type.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a marking device for paper, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a marking attachment for blueprint machines.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a marking assembly which may be selectably utilized to provide a marking on paper, and which may be readily retracted or rendered inoperative when paper is passing through the marking device on which no marking is desired.

Many other advantages, features, and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blueprint machine provided with a marking attachment constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a piece of paper which has passed through the machine of Fig. 1 and has received markings on its obverse side;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken along line III-HI of Fig. 1, showing certain parts broken away, certain parts in elevation, and some parts in section;

Figure 4 shows a front view of the structure shown in Fig. 3, it being further enlarged and a guide cover removed; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, generally similar to Fig. 3, showing the mechanism in an inoperative position.

As shown in the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a blueprint machine such as illustrated in Fig. 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The

term blueprint as used herein refers to a machine employing azo-type of papers. In machines of this type, a

23,939,383 Patented June 7, 1960 2 transparency is passed with the azo-type of paper through the machine and exposed to light, after which the paper is developed within the machine by ammonia.

The machine 10 typically includes the necessary belts, pulleys, and the like for drawing the paper through the machine, so that once it has been passed over an entrance deck 11, and fed into the machine, the paper is thereafter pulled through the machine in a steady fashion. The type of machine as shown and described here is known in the industry by several names, one such well-known trademark being Ozalid.

The machine of Fig. 1 also is provided with a marking mechanism 12 provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and to which the principal part of the specification is directed.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown an enlarged side view of the marking mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 12. Thus Fig. 3 shows portions of the machine with which the marking mechanism 12 cooperates to provide date stamps or other markings on the paper being passed into and pulled through the machine 10.

The marking mechanism 12 generally includes a pair of drums 13 and 14, and a means 15 for retracting the drum 14.

The upper drum 13 is disposed in a generally tangent position with respect to the upper surface 16 of the deck 11. The lower drum 14 projects upwardly through an aperture 11a in the deck 11 and is also disposed in generally tangent relation to the upper surface 16 of the deck 11.

Each of the drums 13 .and 14 has a generally cylindrical section whereby the outer peripheries thereof jointly define a cusp indicated by the arrow 21, the-upper surface 16 of the deck 11 being tangent to the cusp. Thus the point of tangency of the upper and lower drums 13 and 14 with respect to the surface 16 is substantially a single point or line.

Each of the drums 13 and 14 are rotatably mounted and have aligned axes which are spaced apart by a distance equal to the sum of their radii.

To support the lower drum 14, there is provided a pair of brackets 17 and 18 which are secured, such as by a pair of screws 19, to the lower surface 20 of the deck 11.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the upper drum 13 includes a rubber roller 21 having a principal central portion 22 of reduced diameter. The drum 13 is provided with an axial opening in which a threaded shaft 23 is disposed, a pair of nuts 24 fixing the axial relation between the shaft 23 and the roller 21. The extreme ends of the shaft 23 are each provided with a reduced diameter portion 25 which projects through a slot 26 in an upper generally inverted U-shaped bracket 27. The bracket 27 has a pair of aligned holes adjacent to its bight and through which a rod 28 having threaded ends is received. A second U-shaped bracket 29 is also provided with a pair of aligned holes through which the rod 28 projects. Means, such as nuts 30, prevent axial displacement of the rod 28 from the brackets 27 and 29. The bracket 29 is also of inverted U-shape and is adapted at its bight to be bolted or otherwise secured to the under surface of a tray portion 31 of the machine, such as by nut and bolt assemblies 32.

The bracket 27 may be adjusted in the direction of paper movement so that the upper drum 13 is exactly vertically aligned with the axis of the drum 14, or on dead center therewith. The upper drum 13 is free to move up and down in a manner guided by the slots 26. This movement permits papers of various thicknesses or smoothnesses to be received between the drums, a constant backup force being applied in a downward direction by the drum 13. v

A hollow guide cover 33, preferably comprised of diametral portion 50 bf the cylinder 14.

has an elongated flange 34 extending parallel to the drum 13and lwhich' is so disposedand arranged 'as to provide a fiexible'hingeof'limited rangepbetweenjthe tray 31 and theupper EIldOf the'guide cover 33.1 ,The flange 34 is secured such as 'by a nut andbolt assembly 35 to the tray 31. At the lower end, the guide cover 33; is

providedwith apair of cars 36 secured to the sides of the cover, and having laterally extending apertured portions through which a wing nut and bolt assembly 37 extends for .adjustably'positioning the under surface 38 of the deck 11. l V

The downwardly'directe'dsurface 38 is spaced from the upper 'deck surface 16' whilethe cover 33 generally encloses the upper drum 13,1 except at the point of tan-,

gency. The lower surface38 aids in guiding paper into the marking device 12 and prevents fingers, neckties, and the like from being pulled between the rollers when the paper is being pulled bytthe machine 10.

Thebrackets 17 fand 18' are-also each'provided with a guide cover with respecttothe upper surface16 of the Ii weight, presses the paper against the edges of the lower drum 14, while the inked letters 51 may then periodically engage the lower surface of the paper passing therebetween. Once the paper reaches one of the paper pulling sections of the machine 10, the feed and marking continues automatically. Of course, the letters 51 are removable so that appropriate'rnarkings may be added from timetotime. K

Figure 2 shows apaper P which has passed through the machine and has received from the marking mechanism 12 a plurality of marks generally indicated by the letter M, on the lower surface thereof. v r

If it be desired to make a print having no marking, such print may be made by passing the paper through to one sided the mechanism 12. However, the printing or marking drum 14 may also be loweredfrom the'surface 16% shown in Fig. 5 and as previouslydescribed.

In Figure 5, it is seen that the drum 14 might be retracted or lowered when the lettering or printing .on the marking drum is remote from the ink transfer roller 54. This'would tend to transfer a small amount of ink onto the reduced diameter portion 50 of the'drum 14. Howa vertically extending slot 40in which a portion of the lower drum 14 is rotatably'guided. Thus brackets 17 and .18 permit a vertical sliding of the drum 14 relative thereto. ,The means for retracting the marking drum 15 thev drum 14 to selectably position it vertically with realso includes more specifically a means 41 operative on I spect' to the brackets 17 and 18. The means 41, in this embodiment, includes a downwardly depending supporting fulcrum bracket 42 to which a second-class lever 43 is hinged. The lever 43 is provided with a longitudinal 'slot 44 through which the portion of the marking drum '14 projects'which'also passes through and is received in the slot 40. I

' .More specifically, two levers 43 are provided, as best seen in Fig. '14, such levers extending forwardly beyond the drum 14 as described and combining as at 45 to form a single handle portion .46. An additionaldepending bracket 47 is supported by the lower surface 20 of the deck 11 and has at least'two apertures48therein as best seen in Fig. 3. ;The handle portion46 has a laterally exthe paper, to mark the side of the print paper remote from the tracing. 2; A device for marking, paper passing over the sur tending pin 49 which is 'selectably disposed in one of the openings148l Thus the means 41 generally includes a 'lY-shap'ed lever, cooperating with the drum to raise and lower it :with' respect to the supporting surface-16, the

lever 41 being lockable in either of two vertical positions injthe brack'et 47. The lever 41 has suflicient resiliency to permit disengag'ementand re-engagement of the pin 49 in eitheref the apertures 48. a Y

reduced diameter which is adapted to receive various letters, numerals, or markings '51. The letters 51 have a height which slightly exceeds'the reduction'of radius in the central portion. Thereby, letters 51, when advanced 'to the surface 16 will project ever so slightly thereabove; however, the letters 51' are of such height that they do not'ever' engagefthe reduced central portion 22 of the drum 13in the'event that there isrno paper in between "the drums. Thus the marking d 14 cannot transfer ink or the-liketothe drum 13; r o

'The drum 14 has a principal central portion of "As best seen in Fig. 3, an ink supply roller 52 is piv- 55 against the letters 51. The transfer roller 54 is guided in a second vertical s1ot56 in each of the brackets 17 and 18, the length of the slot 56 being such that the roller 51 can not engage thereduced diameter portion 50 of the marking roller 14. Further, the axial length of the transfer'roller 54 is less than the axial length of the reduced A sheet'of paper P; such as shown in Fig. 2, may be oteclon the brackets 17 and 18 and is biased by a pair.

fed across the upper surface of the deck 11, intermediate the drums 13 and 14. 1 The upper drum 13 due to its ever, since it is of reduced diameter, the end portions of non-reduced diameter hold up subsequently fed paper so that such paper does notengage any portion which may have inadvertently become inked.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be under- 's'tood ,that I'wish to. embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all' such embodiments as reasonably and properly come. within the scope of my contribution to the art. I VI claimas my invention:

therewith of a marking attachment carried by said entrance deck, said attachment being operable by the paper in response to operation of said pulling means. acting on .face of. a horizontal deck comprising in combination: a pair: ofidrums ofecircular'lsectio'n rotatably mounted "about their respective axes, said axes being horizontal and'lyinginacommon vertical. plane, said axes being spaced apart by a distance equal to the sum of the radii of said drums so that said drums define a cusp; said drums being so located that the deck surface is a tangent to the cusp; one ofsaid drums being amarkingi'drfum and the otherrbeinga backup drum; and a rigidly supported guide cover having a downwardly directed surface'spaced above the deck surface,' saidguide cover generally enclosing the upper of 'said drums except at Jsaidtangency; said downwardly directed cover surface and said deck surface being disposed to jointly positively vertically -.-guidepaper between'said drums to receive an image thereon fromsaid marking drum;

3. A device for marking paper passing over the surfaceof ahorizontal deck comprising in combination: a pair- 0f drums of circular section rotatably mounted about their respective axes, said axes being horizontal arid lying in a common vertical plane, said axes being spaced apart by a distance equal to the sum of the radii of said drums so that said drums'define acusp; said drums being so located that thedeck surface is a tangent to the cusp; one of said drums being a marking drum and the other beinga backup'drum; upper'and lower bracket means each having vertical guide slots slidably receivinga portion of orie of said drums; and means whereby paper may be"'passed along the deck. surface between said drums to selectably receive an image there- 7 on from said marking drum.

4. A device for marking paper passing over the surface of a horizontal deck comprising in combination: a pair of drums of circular section rotatably mounted about their respective axes, said axes being horizontal and lying in a common vertical plane, said axes being spaced apart by a distance equal to the sum of the radii of said drums so that said drums define a cusp; said drums being so located that the deck surface is a tangent to the cusp; the lower of said drums being a marking drum and the upper of said drums being a back-up drum; a first bracket having a pair of vertical guide slots slidably receiving a portion of said back-up drum, and

allowing said back-up drum to be urged upwardly; a rigidly supported guide cover having a downwardly directed surface spaced above the deck surface, said guide cover generally enclosing the upper of said drums except at said tangency; a second bracket structure having a pair of vertical guide slots slidably receiving a portion of said marking drum; and means operative on said marking drum for selectively positioning it vertically with respect to said second bracket structure; said cover and deck surface being disposed to positively vertically guide paper of various thicknesses between said drums to selectably receive an image on the lower surface thereof from said marking drum.

5. In a machine which can steadily pull paper therethrough, said machine including an entrance deck over the surface of which the paper passes into the machine, the improvement of a marking mechanism having a pair of drums of circular section freely rotatably mounted about their respective axes, said axes being horizontal and lying in a common vertical plane, said axes being normally spaced apart by a distance equal to the sum of the radii of said drums so that said drums define a cusp; said drums being so located that the deck surface is a tangent to the cusp; the lower of said drums being a marking drum and the upper of said drums being a back-up drum; a first bracket supported by the machine and having a pair of vertical guide slots slidably receiving a portion of said back-up drum, and allowing said back-up drum to be urged upwardly; a rigid guide cover supported by said machine, generally enclosing the upper of said drums except at said tangency, and

having a downwardly directed surface spaced above the deck surface; a second bracket structure supported by the lower surface of the deck and having a pair of vertical guide slots slidably receiving a portion of said marking drum and disposing said marking drum to project it upwardly through an aperture in the deck to the upper surface thereof; and means operative on said marking drum for selectively positioning it vertically with respect to said second bracket structure; said downwardly directed cover surface and said deck surface being disposed to jointly positively vertically guide paper of various thicknesses over the deck surface between said drums to selectably receive an image on the lower surface thereof from said marking drum, and to be pulled steadily therebetween by the machine.

6. In-an azo-type of printing machine which can steadily simultaneously pull both print paper and a superimposed tracing therethrough, the improvement in combination therewith of a marking attachment disposed at the entrance deck of the machine, said attachment including: a pair of drums of circular section rotatably mounted about their respective axes, said axes being horizontal and lying in a common vertical plane, said axes being spaced apart by a distance equal to the sum of the radii of said drums so that said drums define a cusp; said drums being so located that the deck surface is a tangent to the cusp; the lower of said drums being a marking drum and the upper of said drums being a back-up drum; and means for selectively retracting said marking drum from the deck surface to a position remote from the deck; whereby paper may be passed along the deck surface between said drums to receive an image on the lower surface thereof from said marking drum, and being steadily pulled .therebetween by the machine, and wherebysaid marking drummay be disposed in a retracted position when the print being made is a reproducible transparency.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14,542 Webster et a1. Mar. 25, 1856 2,018,282 Robinson Oct. 22, 1935 2,607,264 Gazza Aug. 19, 1952 2,613,598 McKay Oct. 14, 1952 2,783,697 Eisner et al. Mar. 5, 1957 

